NHRA: Team Mopar Overcomes Heat and Altitude During Qualifying of Mopar Parts Mile High Nationals
20 July 1998
Mike Dunn, Mopar Top Fuel, (4.941/289.76 8th position)"Four solid runs for the Mopar Top Fuel dragster. We came into qualifying knowing that the temperatures were going to be around 100-degrees. When the temperatures get that high the driver really becomes a factor in the equation of performance. It forces the driver to be much more aware of how the car is reacting to the track surface. In our case, we tried a few different setups to see what the track would hold and got some great information heading into Sunday. I'm real pleased with our combinations and feel great heading into the elimination's tomorrow." Bump: 5.328
Scott Geoffrion, Mopar Pro Stock Avenger, (7.439/184.23, 11th position)
"Not too much of a change from Friday night's qualifying session. We
made a good, clean pass last night and in conditions like these, it
becomes a one-qualifying run race. If you didn't get in Friday night, it
was nearly impossible to make it into the show on Saturday. The Mopar
Avenger seems to like the altitude and has shown good power all weekend. I
know that we have around three-or four-hundredths left in the motor and
come raceday, this Mopar is going to be very competitive. If we can
control some tirespin early and get the power to the ground, I don't see
why we won't go deep into Sunday." Bump: 7.444
Darrell Alderman, Mopar Pro Stock Avenger, (7.444/184.01 16th position)
"Under these circumstances, just to get into the field is a pretty
darn good accomplishment. When the #3 qualifier on Friday doesn't even
make it into the elimination's, you know that the conditions and
competition are extremely tough. My Mopar Dodge Avenger really fought hard
the last two days. We were the fourth quickest during Saturday's first
session and still were five-hundredths away from my qualifying time. The
heat and altitude have really taken its toll on the Pro Stock
naturally-aspirated engines. The elimination's tomorrow is going to be
like two Basset Hounds fighting for a bowl of Gravy Train. In conditions
like these, the playing field is even and anybody can get knocked off at
any time. It should be a lot of fun." Bump: 7.444
Larry Nance, Mopar Pro Stock Avenger, (7.461/183.63 19th position )
"We just missed under tough circumstances. We made a real good move on
Saturday but it just wasn't enough. If we would have made a pass like that
on Friday during the night session, we would have made the field easily.
We were just one round too late with our setup. To run like we did in the
heat on Saturday is extremely encouraging. This Mopar is a darn good race
car and we will make some noise the second-half of the season."
Bump: 7.44
Allen Johnson, Mopar Pro Stock Avenger, (7.684/184.04 28th position)
"We're a little disappointed that we didn't repeat out qualifying
performance of last year. We had all the ingredients to get into the
program, but came up a little short. We had our chance on Friday night but
let the opportunity slip through our fingers. It continues to be a
learning curve for our program and I feel confident that we are heading in
the right direction."
Bump: 7.44
